[YON]∎ Read Free American Panda Gloria Chao Books

American Panda Gloria Chao Books

Download As PDF : American Panda Gloria Chao Books

American Panda Gloria Chao Books

Clearly written from experience, American Panda tells the story of Mei, an over-acheiving Taiwanese-American struggling to find herself while juggling traditional values and parental expectations.

Being only seventeen and at an Ivy League college would be a big enough struggle, without throwing in the fact Mei's parents are dead set on her becoming a doctor. So Mei is enrolled in all the right classes to set her on that track, despite the fact biology bores her to tears and she is way to conscious of germs lurking everywhere.

Her true love is dance, but her parents don't see that as a suitable career - certainly not one that will impress other Taiwanese parents, especially those with eligible sons. Sons Mei isn't interested in meeting because she's already met Darren, the handsome Californian with Japanese roots.

As she struggles to balance her own needs with her parents' demands, Mei finds herself increasingly torn and reaches out to her estranged brother who has been cut off by the family for dating an unsuitable woman. She is surprised to find him happy and unrepentant and starts to wonder if trying to fit herslf into a box that is clearly the wrong size and shape is worth the lies and heartbreak.

While I'm sure this book doesn't represent the experiences of all Asian Americans, it feels wholly honest to the author's experiences. I can imagine that re-living these experiences and emotions must have been incredibly difficult, but Chao has managed to write a book that is both touching and hilariously funny. The characters are authentic and never ridiculed, even when Mei is at her most exasperated at the cultural gap between herself and her family.

Highly recommended!


Tags : Amazon.com: American Panda (9781481499101): Gloria Chao: Books,Gloria Chao,American Panda,Simon Pulse,1481499106,Diversity & Multicultural,Humorous - General,People & Places - United States - Asian American,College students,Families,Family life,Family life;Fiction.,Massachusetts Institute of Technology,Taiwanese Americans,Taiwanese Americans;Fiction.,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Fiction-Humorous,JUVENILE,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Grades 7-9 Ages 12-14,Massachusetts,TEEN'S FICTION - COMING OF AGE,Taiwanese-American; Chinese; romantic comedy; ownvoices; MIT; siblings; parental expectations; laugh-out-loud; Boston; hot cocoa; first love; coming-of-age; mother daughter relationship; books by women of color; books by Taiwanese writers; Jenny Han; To All the Boys I've Loved Before; Crazy Rich Asians,United States,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Diversity & Multicultural,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Humorous General,YOUNG ADULT FICTION People & Places United States Asian American,Young Adult FictionHumorous - General,Young Adult FictionPeople & Places - United States - Asian American

American Panda Gloria Chao Books Reviews

American Panda follows seventeen year old Taiwanese-American, Mei. Mei is a germaphobe, forced into a premed program by her very traditional parents. She is afraid to reveal that she instead would rather own a dance studio. Especially after her brother Xing is disowned for choosing a spouse his parents disapprove of.

I enjoyed this book immensely which is remarkable because Young Adult literature is not my favorite. Gloria Chao's American Panda is thought provoking in its consideration of the perpetuation of traditions among immigrants. People who have left their home countries seem to hold on even tighter to traditions, cherishing these as a link to their home. But, considering that not all traditions have merit, why continue unnecessary, sometimes stifling traditions? Why not instead begin new traditions?

Still, the book is far from all-heavy material. There are sweet moments between Mei and Darren, funny scenes with her dramatic family and great camaraderie between Mei and Xing. It also brings to life the ups and downs of college existence in a university like MIT.

In Summary, American Panda is not just for young adults. Anyone who's ever embarked on the arduous journey to self will enjoy this read. A perfect blend of wit and substance, American Panda is delightful, inspiring and stimulating!
I'm an MIT alum and although I graduated long ago, this book brings back many memories with its descriptions of life at MIT, which really doesn't seem to have changed in any very substantial way.

The story itself is a lot of fun. (I've been married for a very long time to an Asian and some of the things the author writes about ring a bell, too.)

This is a coming of age story, in a way. The protagonist discovers love and romance while at MIT, but has to deal with a traditional Taiwanese mother and father who totally disapprove of a Japanese boyfriend. Things go downhill fast until ... well, you'll see.

There's a lot here that will call to mind things like Tiger Mom, Helicopter Parents, and much more. It's done with humor and in good taste. The author to some large extent writes from experience. Perhaps the book is not "politically correct" and that in itself is an argument about taking PC-ness too far. (It is, however, NOT suitable for 12-year olds as is claimed in the description.)

The writing itself is stellar. It's the right mix of tone, humor, language, and emotion. I really recommend this book and you don't have to be an MIT alum to love it.
AMERICAN PANDA floored me with its nonstop humor and fresh voice, and then it sneakily broke my heart. Protagonist Mei's Taiwanese parents want her to become a doctor, but she pictures a different future for herself, perhaps one involving her love of dance. I've never seen a parent-child culture clash portrayed in quite this way; Mei clearly loves her mother and respects her culture, but she also aches for her independence.

I also LOVED that this book takes place during Mei's freshman year at MIT, a rare setting for YA but one I desperately want to see more. It's still 100 percent a coming-of-age story, a story about identity, a story about being pinned between two worlds and how to forge your own path.

Gloria Chao's debut is not to be missed.
Here's the thing that speaks to me so much about American Panda. I'm not Taiwanese, and my home life was so different growing up. But I felt like I was Mei, and she was me. It's rare that I connect so deeply with a character, but there was something so heartfelt and earnest and raw in the voice of this book, that I feel like anyone will be able to find a piece of themselves. There is something about #ownvoices novels by marginalized authors that help me relate to the characters in special way. There is a richness there that I feel all the way in my bones.

This book has everything one could ask for in a contemporary YA novel. It's HILARIOUS. I'm talking scream laugh funny. There is also a sweet romance, and tidbits about MIT that are fascinating for this outsider. There are family dynamics, urban legends, and vivid settings. Plus, the book will make you hungry.

I can't say enough good things about American Panda. It's one of my favorites of 2018. Highly recommended.
Clearly written from experience, American Panda tells the story of Mei, an over-acheiving Taiwanese-American struggling to find herself while juggling traditional values and parental expectations.

Being only seventeen and at an Ivy League college would be a big enough struggle, without throwing in the fact Mei's parents are dead set on her becoming a doctor. So Mei is enrolled in all the right classes to set her on that track, despite the fact biology bores her to tears and she is way to conscious of germs lurking everywhere.

Her true love is dance, but her parents don't see that as a suitable career - certainly not one that will impress other Taiwanese parents, especially those with eligible sons. Sons Mei isn't interested in meeting because she's already met Darren, the handsome Californian with Japanese roots.

As she struggles to balance her own needs with her parents' demands, Mei finds herself increasingly torn and reaches out to her estranged brother who has been cut off by the family for dating an unsuitable woman. She is surprised to find him happy and unrepentant and starts to wonder if trying to fit herslf into a box that is clearly the wrong size and shape is worth the lies and heartbreak.

While I'm sure this book doesn't represent the experiences of all Asian Americans, it feels wholly honest to the author's experiences. I can imagine that re-living these experiences and emotions must have been incredibly difficult, but Chao has managed to write a book that is both touching and hilariously funny. The characters are authentic and never ridiculed, even when Mei is at her most exasperated at the cultural gap between herself and her family.

Highly recommended!